Diageo

UK, Europe – Score, A

The British beverage giant Diageo has permanently raised the bar on environmental performance at its worldwide facilities. In line with its ambitious target to reduce emissions by 50% by 2020, it has set strong new standards for its buildings and operations. These require that new factories are highly energy efficient and generate their own renewable energy on-site wherever feasible. Diageo has set up several bioenergy plants operating at distilleries in Scotland and India, which have benchmark performance standards for carbon emissions, water use and efficiency, and effluent management. For example, one of their distilleries in Scotland includes a bioenergy facility that converts byproducts and wastewater into renewable energy, accounting for 50% of the site’s energy needs. Diageo’s new flagship Guinness brewhouse in Dublin showcases its approach. The state-of-the-art facility has been applauded as the first large-scale brewery in the world to achieve LEED Platinum certification – the global standard for sustainable buildings.